Rājendrakarṇapūra is a poem, a eulogy to the Cōḷa King Rājēndra Cōḷa I, who ruled over the Cōḷa Empire in South India during the period of 1012-1044 AD. The poem is divided into 20 cantos, and it describes the greatness of King Rājēndra Cōḷa I and his conquests. It provides a vivid description of the King's military campaigns, diplomatic alliances, courtly life, and patronage of art and literature. The poem also describes the natural beauty of the Cōḷa kingdom, including its forests, mountains, and rivers.
Rājendrakarṇapūra is known for its poetic excellence and literary style. The poem uses a range of poetic devices such as similes, metaphors, and alliteration, and it is considered one of the best examples of classical Sanskrit literature.
Rājendrakarṇapūra is a Sanskrit kāvya (poem), which describes the greatness of the Cōḷa King Rājēndra Cōḷa I and his conquests. The poem is divided into 20 cantos, each of which covers a specific topic related to the King's reign. Here is a brief summary of the contents of Rājendrakarṇapūra:
Canto 1-2: Praises the King's ancestors and the Cōḷa dynasty's royal lineage.
Canto 3-4: Describes the birth and childhood of Rājēndra Cōḷa I.
Canto 5-6: Narrates Rājēndra Cōḷa I's ascension to the throne and his coronation ceremony.
Canto 7-8: Describes the King's military campaigns against his enemies, including the Pandya and Chera dynasties.
Canto 9-10: Details the King's victories over various Kingdoms in South India and Sri Laṅkā.
Canto 11-12: Describes the King's military expeditions to Southeast Asia, including the conquest of the kingdom of Srivijaya in present-day Indonesia.
Canto 13-14: Depicts the courtly life of Rājēndra Cōḷa I, including his patronage of art, literature, and music.
Canto 15-16: Details the King's administrative and economic reforms, including the construction of irrigation canals and the development of trade.
Canto 17-18: Praises the natural beauty of the Cōḷa kingdom, including its forests, mountains, and rivers.
Canto 19-20: Concludes with a eulogy to Rājēndra Cōḷa I and his reign, and expresses the poet's hope that the Cōḷa dynasty will continue to prosper under his successors.
Rājendrakarṇapūra is a unique work of Sanskrit literature in several ways. Here are some of its distinctive features:
• Eulogy to a King: The poem is a eulogy to the Cōḷa King Rājēndra Cōḷa I, and it celebrates his military conquests, administrative reforms, and cultural achievements. While many Sanskrit works praise gods and goddesses, Rājendrakarṇapūra is one of the few kavyas that is entirely dedicated to a human king.
• Historical Importance: The poem provides a valuable source for understanding the history and culture of the Cōḷa dynasty and the period in which it flourished. It details the King's military campaigns, administrative reforms, and patronage of art and literature, and sheds light on the Cōḷa Empire’s achievements in South India and Southeast Asia.
• Literary Style: Rājendrakarṇapūra is known for its poetic excellence and literary style. The poem uses a range of poetic devices such as similes, metaphors, and alliteration, and it is considered one of the best examples of classical Sanskrit literature.
• Panegyric Tradition: Rājendrakarṇapūra belongs to the panegyric tradition of Sanskrit literature, which was popular in the medieval period. Panegyrics were composed to praise kings, queens, and other patrons, and they often included elaborate descriptions of their achievements and virtues.
Rājendrakarṇapūra is a unique and valuable work of Sanskrit literature, which combines historical narrative, literary excellence, and panegyric tradition to celebrate the greatness of the Cōḷa king Rājēndra Cōḷa I.
Rājendrakarṇapūra is a remarkable contribution to Sanskrit literature. As a kāvya, it showcases the literary excellence of classical Sanskrit, with its rich use of poetic devices and complex metrical patterns. Moreover, the poem is unique in its content, as it is entirely dedicated to eulogizing a King, Rājēndra Cōḷa I. This makes it an important source for understanding the history and culture of the Cōḷa dynasty, especially in the period of its greatest expansion.
Apart from its historical value, Rājendrakarṇapūra's panegyric tradition exemplifies the close relationship between literature and politics in ancient India. It served as a powerful instrument of propaganda, used by the courtly poets to glorify the King and his empire, and to promote the values and ideals of the ruling elite. As such, the poem's literary and historical significance cannot be overstated. It represents not only a masterpiece of Sanskrit poetry but also a testament to the cultural and political achievements of one of India's most powerful dynasties.
In addition to its literary and historical significance, Rājendrakarṇapūra is also notable for its use of Sanskrit as a language of courtly literature in South India during the Cōḷa period. The Cōḷa’s were known for their patronage of the arts, and their court was a centre of Sanskrit learning and scholarship. Rājendrakarṇapūra is one of the finest examples of this literary tradition, showcasing the high level of sophistication and creativity that was achieved in Sanskrit poetry in the Tamil country.
The poem also reflects the religious and cultural diversity of the Cōḷa kingdom, which was home to people of different faiths and traditions. While Rājendrakarṇapūra celebrates Rājēndra Cōḷa's achievements as a Hindu ruler, it also acknowledges the contributions of other communities, such as the Jains, who are praised for their piety and generosity.
1. औदार्यं सदने नयो गुणिजने लज्जा कुलस्त्रीजने । सत्काव्यं वदने मदो द्विरदने पुंस्कोकिलः कानने
रोलम्बः समले नखाङ्करचना कान्ताकपोलस्थले ।
तन्वी तल्पतले भवानपि विभो भूमण्डले मण्डनम् ॥ [राजेन्द्रकर्णपूर - ५४]
Generosity in the house, humility in the virtuous, modesty in the woman of the family, good poetry in the face, drunkenness in the elephant's mouth, male cuckoo in the forest, bee in the filthy, nail composition on the cheekbones of the lover, body on the bed, O lord you too are an ornament on the earth.